Sione Sangster Saulala
Encyclopedia
Sione Sangster Saulala is a Tonga
n broadcaster and politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
. He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
.
and editor of the Tonga Star. In 2003, he was one of five people prosecuted for contempt of court for a television broadcast discussion the government's suppression of the Times of Tonga
newspaper. In 2007 he was charged with sedition
and riotous assembly over the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots
, but the charges were later dismissed.
In 2007 Saulala served as chair of the Tonga Rugby Union. He was re-elected in 2009 but his election was disputed.
, standing in Vava'u, and the 2008 elections
, standing in Tongatapu, but was unsuccessful. He was elected to the seat of Tongatapu 7 in the 2010 elections
.
In October 2011, he introduced a controversial Arms and Ammunitions (Amendment) Bill to Parliament as a private member's bill
. The aim of the bill was to reduce the maximum sentence for unlicenced possession, use or carrying of a firearm, from five years to one year and/or to a fine. Saulala explained that he was intruducing the bill so as to "rationalise" and "humanise" the Arms and Ammunition Act 1968, at the request of his constituents who owned and used small firearms "for the familiar chores of shooting pigs and shooting chickens". The leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, MP [[ʻAkilisi Pohiva]], expressed surprise at the bill being submitted by a member of his party without the party caucus having been at all consulted. He expressed the view that, had it been discussed by the party, it would probably have been rejected without ever reaching the floor of the Assembly. Lord Tuʻihaʻateiho
, a representative of the nobility from Haʻapai, was quoted by the Taimi Media Network
as pointing out that, under the amendment, persons convicted of unlicenced possession of firearms would no longer lose the right to hold government office, including a seat in Parliament. The TMN argued that "therein lay the real reason for the Bill", as two representatives of the nobility in Parliament were awaiting trial on precisely that charge.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n broadcaster and politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
Legislative Assembly of Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has 30 members, 9 members elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system, 9 members elected for a three year term by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga, 10 members of the Privy Council and 2 governors. The...
. He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands is a political party in Tonga. The party's leader is 'Akilisi Pohiva....
.
Personal background
Saulala is the manager of the Oceania Broadcasting NetworkOceania Broadcasting Network
Oceania Broadcasting Network is a Tongan free-to-air television station, privately owned by Christopher Racine. and operated by members of the Tokaikolo Christian Fellowship. It began operating in 1991.-Opening:OBN was officially opened by King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV on September 29, 1991...
and editor of the Tonga Star. In 2003, he was one of five people prosecuted for contempt of court for a television broadcast discussion the government's suppression of the Times of Tonga
Times of Tonga
The Times of Tonga also known as Taimi o Tonga is published by the Taimi Media Network Ltd from Auckland, New Zealand. It started publication in April 1989. It is published twice a week. The newspaper's owner and publisher is Kalafi Moala, a Tongan-American citizen.The newspaper has been a...
newspaper. In 2007 he was charged with sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
and riotous assembly over the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots
2006 Nuku'alofa riots
The 2006 Nukualofa riots started on 16 November, in the Tongan capital of Nukualofa. The Legislative Assembly of Tonga was due to adjourn for the year and despite promises of action, had done little to advance democracy in the government. A mixed crowd of democracy advocates took to the streets in...
, but the charges were later dismissed.
In 2007 Saulala served as chair of the Tonga Rugby Union. He was re-elected in 2009 but his election was disputed.
Political career
He contested the 2005 electionsTongan general election, 2005
A General election was held in Tonga on 17 March 2005. Only nine members of the 30-seat parliament are elected, the rest appointed by the King or are members of the Tongan aristocracy. The Human Rights and Democracy Movement won seven of the nine seats...
, standing in Vava'u, and the 2008 elections
Tongan general election, 2008
Parliamentary elections were held in Tonga on April 23 and 24, 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly. The nobles were elected on 23 April, and the nine people's representatives on 24 April. A total of 32,000 people turned out to vote, giving a turnout of 48%.71 candidates had filed for...
, standing in Tongatapu, but was unsuccessful. He was elected to the seat of Tongatapu 7 in the 2010 elections
Tongan general election, 2010
Early general elections under a new electoral law were held in Tonga on 25 November 2010. They determined the composition of the 2010 Tongan Legislative Assembly....
.
In October 2011, he introduced a controversial Arms and Ammunitions (Amendment) Bill to Parliament as a private member's bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
. The aim of the bill was to reduce the maximum sentence for unlicenced possession, use or carrying of a firearm, from five years to one year and/or to a fine. Saulala explained that he was intruducing the bill so as to "rationalise" and "humanise" the Arms and Ammunition Act 1968, at the request of his constituents who owned and used small firearms "for the familiar chores of shooting pigs and shooting chickens". The leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, MP [[ʻAkilisi Pohiva]], expressed surprise at the bill being submitted by a member of his party without the party caucus having been at all consulted. He expressed the view that, had it been discussed by the party, it would probably have been rejected without ever reaching the floor of the Assembly. Lord Tuʻihaʻateiho
Viliami Veasi'i Veikune
Viliami Veasiʻi Veikune, styled Lord Tuʻihaʻateiho is a Tongan noble, politician, and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. He is the 15th person to hold the Tuʻihaʻateiho title, and was appointed to it on 5 June 2004....
, a representative of the nobility from Haʻapai, was quoted by the Taimi Media Network
Times of Tonga
The Times of Tonga also known as Taimi o Tonga is published by the Taimi Media Network Ltd from Auckland, New Zealand. It started publication in April 1989. It is published twice a week. The newspaper's owner and publisher is Kalafi Moala, a Tongan-American citizen.The newspaper has been a...
as pointing out that, under the amendment, persons convicted of unlicenced possession of firearms would no longer lose the right to hold government office, including a seat in Parliament. The TMN argued that "therein lay the real reason for the Bill", as two representatives of the nobility in Parliament were awaiting trial on precisely that charge.